Dear Neighbors,
I hope you had a great weekend! We’ve seen a lot of legislative activity and advocacy groups visiting at the Capitol. Here’s an update from St. Paul:
Last week began with a rare joint press conference hosted by Governor Tim Walz, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka. The elected leaders announced three additional deadlines intended to prevent closed-door, behind-the-scenes budget negotiations that are not accessible to members of the public, as had become the norm from previous control of the House.
Watch the full press conference here and read MPR’s coverage of it here. Addressing Senseless Gun Violence
The Parkland, FL massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School occurred one year ago on February 14. A memorial took place that afternoon in the Capitol Rotunda, where members of the public, legislators, and advocates read the names of Minnesotans who have died at the hands of a firearm, whether through gun violence or suicide. The Star Tribune covered the memorial here.
I’m committed to taking legislative action to make our state and country safer for everyone.
Increasing the Standard Deduction
On Wednesday, a proposal to increase the standard deduction for Minnesota families received a public hearing in the Taxes Committee. The bill would increase the standard deduction by $2,000 for joint filers and would save a married couple earning median income on average $141. About two-thirds of Minnesotans claim the standard deduction.
Minnesota is currently not in conformity with federal changes to the standard deduction in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, so the state standard deduction is tied to old federal law.
Discussions on tax conformity have begun and will continue throughout the session.
Appointment by the Speaker
I’m pleased to share Speaker Hortman has appointed me to the Trade Policy Advisory Council for the 2019-2020 biennium. This Council advises and assists the Governor and Legislature on issues related to United States trade agreements and assesses the potential impact of federal trade agreements on the state’s economy. I’m looking forward to this new and exciting role.
Keep in Touch
Please stay in touch with your ideas, questions and input. Don’t hesitate to let me know if I can ever be of any assistance. I can be reached at 651-296-4218 or by email at rep.andrew.carlson@house.mn. Follow me on Facebook here.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative